While Canada played through the controversy at the Solt Lake City 2002 Olympics, its beloved and iconic athletic star caught the microphone and stood for the nation. The Canadian national team had just came from behind to link the Czech Republic 3-3 in a hot Robin match.
Wayne Gretzki, CEO of Canada, called on the media reports of the turmoil in the Canadian Treasury Chamber.
“I don’t think we hate these countries as much as they hate us,” he said. “They want us to see our failure. They like to hit us. … we must get the same feeling towards them.”
It was like a hockey fans watched the greatest player in the game since his retirement a few years ago. Canada was seeking the first Olympic gold medal in the men’s hockey in half a century.
“Am I hot? Yes, I’m hot.” “Because I am tired of taking people in Canadian hockey. … It was disgusting to supervise the TV device because I am a proud of this and such a fan of playing and very proud of all the players in the treasury room, and makes me feel the disease to hear some of the things that are said about us.”
The emotional Gretzky defense of Canada was an inspiring turning point for the Canadian team full of stars, which continued to win the gold medal over American soil.
Since Gretzky rose to fame as a teenage phenomenon in the 1970s and continued to rewrite almost every record record in the game, Canadians looked at the great symbol as a symbol of national pride.
Now, all the pride that Canadians felt in the greatest sports export in the country It is interrogated. The north of the border, that sentence one day could not be understood. But Gretzki’s loyalty to US President Donald Trump – and his health after Trump’s repeated calls to make Canada in the state 51 while he was in the northern hall with broken definitions – left many Canadians to feel deep treason.
Gretzky has occupied newspapers and news experiences throughout Canada. He has a seam to restore Gritzky Drive in Edmonton over 12,000 signatures.
Some defenders of Gretzki described unfair criticism and political motives. But in Canada, the feelings go beyond the political spectrum, to the deep, emerging nationalism where the country feels support from an angle.
For decades, Gretzky – to some extent or not – embodied the feeling of the patriot that exceeds sport.
Yes, Gritzky is the pride of Brangford, Ontario – the little boy who learned the game on a circuit in the backyard. He came from a working class family, which arrived in Canada through Ukraine. His journey felt excellence, with hard work and the spirit of blue collars, representative of the nation.
Over the decades, Walter Gretzki, his father, often seen in the small town’s tracks that he became known for affection in the name of Abi Al -Huki in Canada. He lived in the same house in Brangford until he died. People visited. Poetry is common and familiar, which is anywhere in Canada has become a gateway to greatness.
Despite his fame, Gritzky himself has always seen these small Canadian ideal ideals. He was nice with fans, humble in interviews, but he did not apologize for his endeavor to succeed and the will that I took to achieve. Because of this spacious familiarity, it looked like a Gretzky connection to the house never hesitated, even at the height of his fame.
This is what I felt, however.
If I grew up in Canada during the 1980s and 1990s, Gritzky was at the top of the national appreciation. He did not survey in Edmonton, and clashed for Canadian glory on the ice – then cried after learning that he was exported to California.
In its greatness, he made Canadians with blond hockey poured hair people talk about Canada. We saw it on Saturday morning, along with Michael Jordan and Bo Jackson. We saw it in Coke and Nike ads and reference in Hollywood films. He became internationally recognized in a way that no hockey player had before. Under the global -connected media era, Gritzky became the first Canadian to sit in the world’s sporty legends.
Therefore, it is difficult to overestimate the pride that many Canadians carry for Gritzki. But pride is not the only word here. There was also a feeling of ownership: Gretzki belonged to Canada.
This, of course, was never true.
Gretzki lived in the United States since his circulation to the Kings of Los Angeles in 1988. He became a homogeneous American citizen. Gritzkys had homes in California, Wyoming, Missouri and Florida.
In 2009, Gritzky got the highest civil honor in the country, Rafik and the Medal of Canada. The award recognizes the outstanding achievement and dedication in society and service to the nation. But so far, Gretzky has not participated in an investment ceremony to receive the award from the Governor of Canada General in Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
Somewhere all the way, the idea of Gretzky as the Ambassador of Canada has become the continuous myths.
A simple fact that confirms a lot of harm and resentment that Canadians feel about ridicule, threats and economic attacks coming from the American President. There is a feeling that this northern nation revolves around its largest neighbor. There is an inadvertent understanding that our greatest pride points – or in reality, special sovereignty – can be swallowed by the giant.
Gretzki was Canada, until America also claimed.
Over the past decade, many in -depth conversations have been held with Gritzky. He was thoughtful, ready to think about all joy and pain in his life. He talked about Canada with pride, with a loyal feeling of gratitude.
Gretzky did not respond to a text asking to talk about this story.
In the past, we talked about the passion he showed in the 2002 Olympics, and then The death of his close friend and his teacher AS Billy In the September 11 terrorist attacks. We talked about his late father and his family and his legacy in the game – which Gretzki was often postponed to the greatness of other players. I followed it as it is The field crossed in Vinway Park During Nhl’s Outdoo Classic, as fans of all generations invited him – Wayne!
The aura follows Gritzky wherever it goes. For years, it looked like this will always be. But now in Canada, for many people, the Gretzky image has vanished as a distinguished symbol of national pride. This is not because of his policy or where he chooses to live. Not even because of anything Gretzky did by himself. This is because we know that the legend was never real, and it may not have been any fair standard.
There was politicized criticism when Gretzki’s photos first appeared to celebrate Trump’s electoral victory in Mar Lago, then when he attended the president’s inauguration. But this was not what the Canadians were really annoyed. This was later, when Trump turned his focus into Canada – and Gretzaki, the national hero, was silent.
Wayne Gretzki and his wife Janet attended the inauguration of US President Donald Trump in January. (Kevin Lamarque / Pool / Getty Images)
He was presented as the Canadian team ambassador inside TD Garden before the final of the face of 4 countries a few weeks ago-the best match between Canada and the United States-Gretzky out of the American side of the seats that was wearing a suit while recognizing players from both teams. He was received with a lukewarm applause and a wide range of booing. From the stands, it was difficult to decode whether the lukewarm response was directed to Gritzky or its role that represents Canada. The crowd preferred the Americans strongly, but about a third of the building supported the northern competitors. In more calm times, the Gretzky entrance had faced a script and then forgotten.
But these are not calm times north of the border. And when criticism was swallowed, somewhat or not, Gritzky’s silence was explained as a statement.
The Canadian Hockey icon, born in Gretzki, defended. In a message It was published by The Toronto Sun, and described his counterpart in the Hall of Fame as “one of the greatest Canadians ever.”
Like Gretzky Canada as a player and executive manager for decades, Ur wrote, criticized the “fluctuating” people who turned to him because of his personal beliefs.
“Wayne respects your rights and beliefs,” he wrote Ur. “Why can’t you respect it?”
Janet Gretzki shared a message on Instagram thanks ORR for the defense of her husband.
“I never met anyone who is proud to be a Canadian and his heart broke his reading and seeing middle comments. … He was doing anything to make the Canadians proud, with his love for hockey and his country.”
There was no stir about the silence of many of the Canadian celebrities who found their fame and wealth in the United States. But then, there are no pictures of them in the Maga hat that supports the president who called for the inclusion of the country.
President Trump has also spoken, and posted on social media that he did not want the Canadians to operate Gritzky.
“He’s the greatest Canadian of them all, and therefore I make him” a free agent “, because I do not want anyone in Canada to say anything bad about him,” Trump wrote.
“It supports Canada in the way it should be, although it is almost not good and it can be part of the greatest and most powerful country in the world, the first of” the good USA! “
This cynicism was made with more silence from Gretzky and the perception of the bite that hurts the Canadians more. At this moment of national turmoil, the great on the adverse bench.
(Clarification: Dimitrius Robinson / Athlete. Photo: Saul Lob Ball via imagn photos)
